Claire found a Beginner Vintage Trailer Remodel project. This is her first crazy adventure for her and Ty after they got married. It all started with a Craig’slist ad for a 1987 Prowler camper. I then decided we needed to make a Gypsy trailer compound on the farm that us girls could use for fun summer nights!
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Are you thinking to remodel a vintage trailer? We have the cost breakdown and supplies you may need. Our cost estimate is with free labor so keep that in mind when planning your beginner vintage trailer remodel.
What to Look for When Buying A Vintage Trailer
Get ready to inspect a trailer really well when considering purchasing a vintage trailer.
May I add that Claire went and looked at her vintage trailer with a girlfriend and she was pretty nervous because it was in need of a lot of help. Find Claire’s inspiration board at the bottom with links to shop.
Here is a checklist of things to look at.
Major Issues That Can Cost More Time and Money
- Water damage
- Do you see visible cracks or holes in the siding or roof?
- Is there rust or discoloration from water. This is key for outside and inside
- does the floor have any soft spot, it could be rotten
- Do you see ripples in the wallpaper or ceiling?
- Inspect all interior walls and ceiling, be sure to open cabinet doors and look inside!
- Water damage can be hiding in the walls or floors and with vintage I would expect some. What you want to determine is if it’s to much work to repair.
- Cushions, Mattress, Couch
- These are things that can really add up in price!
- Do they smell? Can they be cleaned?
- Can they be recovered or will you need to buy new?
- I personally would make all new cushions
- Frame damage
- Is it rusty or cracked? A damaged frame can get incredibly costly and sometimes impossible to repair
- Windows
- Are they in working order? Are they intact?
- Check skylights and vent coverings too!
- Are screens in place or holey
- Appliances
- Appliances can be costly to replace! Do they work? Check them!
- Fridge
- Hot water heater
- Stove
- Microwave
- AC
- Heater
- Tires – Look at possibly buying new tires as these may have sat a long time
- Electrical – Check lights inside and outside
Minor Issues that are fun to fix
- Outdated decor – Bring on the paint!
- Ugly wallpaper – Easy, paint over it!
- Old/outdated toilet or faucet – Not that expensive to replace and fairly simple to do, YouTube can help if you don’t have help but don’t tell anyone I said that.
- Flooring – Flooring can be ripped out and painted or replaced pretty inexpensively
- Lights – lights can be painted or replaced inexpensively
- Smoke detectors
- LP gas/Carbon monoxide detectors
- Pipes and tanks
- Gas tanks
- Sewage hoses
Supplies You will need For A VinTage CARAVAN
- Insulation, we don’t know what kind right now. We need to ask Ty
- Wood Support, I think that we will need 1 x 2 boards to add structure support for the new walls. This wood is light weight and the walls in the trailer are thin
- Wood sheeting/ panels for walls
- Screws and nails for air nailer, I love a good air nailer, they are so fun and easy
- New wiring for lights and plug ins
- Possible New Ceiling Hatch Window because we love seeing the stars as night
- Wood putty or plaster to cover nail and screws in the walls
- Caulking and Caulk Gun for around windows and siding
- Cabinet locks because nobody want their stuff falling out
- Roof sealer for any leaks. Using the roll on paint kind
- Paint for outside and inside
- Rattan webbing to add to upper cabinets
- Peel and stick wall paper for the ceiling, maybe
- New Ceiling Vents
- Lighting
- Shower Curtain
- New Faucets
- New Sinks
- Wood Counter Top
- Possible New Shower Stall
- Faux Wood Flooring
- Cabinet Hardware
- Cushions, Pillows
- Wall Decor because that’s what girls like
- Rug
- Bedding
- Blinds/ Curtains
- All the cute things that make a camper look like home
COST ESTIMATE for Vintage Trailer Remodel
This trailer is striped down to the studs in some places to get rid of dry rot. We also want this to turn out extra cute with nice faucets and lights which puts us at a cost estimate of $3,500 and that also includes the air compressor and air nail gun and tools. With cute bedding and blinds we may be looking at a few hundred more.
Before Beginner Vintage Trailer Remodel
She will end up painting the outside of it to be a bit more cute like some of the trailers we posted above. It will also fit her Modern Farmhouse home style like in the blog post we just published showing what her style is.
Stay tuned to our Instagram at Hallstromhome for the process of doing a beginner vintage trailer remodel because we don’t know what’s going to happen yet. We do know we will have our followers pick the winner of our camper trailer fixer upper challenge once we are ready. This should be fun!!! Take a look at Rhonda’s vintage trailer that she will be remodeling. Here is Lynn’s travel trailer she is remodeling.
Vintage Tiny Trailer Camper Ideas
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Hey there! I am Rhonda Hallstrom, creator and designer of Hallstrom Home. Making beautiful home decor is my way to inspire you to follow your dreams and amibitions. So come check out my shop and blog, I hope to get to know you. Thanks for stopping by at Hallstrom Home, Rhonda.
RV remodeling work always fascinates me. I love this kind of DIY remodeling, decorating and replacing things but I have not had a good experience in my RV remodeling. Perhaps due to lack of knowledge and expertise. The only DIY that I do in the right way is coating my RV roof with RV Roof Magic. It is a solvent based product that only needs one coat and there is no need for a primer, so it is an easy task that can be done on a bright sunny day. Liquid roof is applied at approximately 50 sq. ft per gallon that will result in about a 20-mil film thickness. After it dries it brings a new roof with an aesthetically seamless membrane that can withstand ponding water 365 days a year.
Do you have a link for that tile wallpaper?? 😍
I don’t but its so amazing!
I love so much the exterior color of the RV Connie… what color/RAL did you use?
I am not quite sure on that!
Do you know any companies that sell renovated vintage trailers?
best to look on facebook marketplace
Where do I find new cabinets we don’t actually need a kitchen sink it more like an area for storage and getting festival ready…our trailer is stationary and not road worthy so it’s almost easier. I like the white cabinets we need draws and a butcher block top…one issue is the wheel well is in the way so we would have to customize that portion….ikea? Home Depot? Where do I get it? Any ideas?
Ikea might be a good spot for a cheaper version, or even look on Facebook market place maybe someone is selling a small section of cabinets. That’s of course if you’re willing to update them a little.
Best
Rhonda
I purchased a old 1968 Shasta Travel trailer with a air condition that runs very cold which is very important if you live in Texas we used if seversl times did great in the coast we’ve started working on it but stoped. I want to start up again this coming spring 2021. Vert excited about your blog.
That sounds like so much fun! And so exciting to see what you will do!!
These renovations are amazing!! Can’t wait to their transformation of theirs!! How fun!!
I know! It sure is exciting
I can not wait to watch this transformation!! Definitely a future project I’ve been thinking about
It’s going to be so fun!
This is going to be fun!!
So much fun!!
Nervous and excited for you all 🙌🏼🙌🏼💜
What a fun challenging project between momma in law and daughter in law 💕
Thumper_baby
Thanks it’s going to be a lot of fun!!
Looks like fun!
So much fun and lots of work!!
What a project! How fun, can’t wait to see the end result!!
It’s going to be so fun!!